"Relationships aren't just perfect."

Many of us hate for our romantic relationships to feel like work, but according to Dax Shepard, husband to actress Kristen Bell, that's too bad. In an interview with People Now, the actor shared the secret to his marriage's success: consistent, concerted effort.

"It's not effortless. It seems effortless," Dax said, adding that he and Kristen are open about going to couples' therapy. "We work it like a job."

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"Relationships aren't just perfect," he added, explaining that it's not like you just meet someone and say "'Oh this is a perfect match,' then you put it in neutral and coast into your golden years." Dax notes, at least in his experience, "that's not how it works."

And when you're parenting two young children—Kristen and Dax have a 4-year-old daughter named Lincoln and a 2-year-old daughter named Delta—it's even more important to make sure you set aside alone time together. Dax told People he and Kristen deliberately put dates and one-on-one activities on the calendar, rather than just make vague plans to spend an evening together.

"You do have to take it as seriously as you take your work commitments," he said. "It has to be scheduled and you have to prioritize it or it doesn't happen."

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In past interviews, Kristen and Dax have both been honest about their relationship's flaws and the continual maintenance their remarkably solid union requires. In August, Kristen told Women's Health that the pair are "very aware of the responsibility that we have based on our relationship being in the public eye."

"I’ll lead with the fact that it’s never easy... the movies White Knights and Say Anything should never have been made because they gave girls very unrealistic expectations as to the rest of their lives," she said. "That’s not how it works out. It involves a sh*t ton of compromise and a lot of work."

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